I’ll be the first one to raise my hand and say I’m guilty. I won’t post anything here trying to point fingers, but rather to say that I’m working on it myself. I have the hardest time remembering who to pray for – requests seem to come from all directions. I don’t NOT want to pray for anyone, because for one, I have a sympathetic heart and hate to hear of others hurting. Two, we are called to pray for each other. Finally, I certainly know that when I or a loved one of mine has a need, I’ll be shoutin’ out for prayer, too!
Things that have worked or that I would like to try:
- Write the request down in a place I’ll actually see it again and everyday.
- Pray right then with the person requesting, if possible. Or just pray right then.
- Finding a Scripture to pray over/for that person.
- Prayer journal.
Suggestions? Thoughts? I’d really like to get better about this…I’m so forgetful…
I was JUST thinking about this. Funny, how that works, huh?
I wonder if there is a clicker type thing where it would look like a button and have a person’s name or specific prayer or picture whatever, but readers could click on the button when they say a prayer or if they commit to praying about a certain thing. Does that make any sense?
I usually try to pray immediately. If possible, I will do it out loud and WITH them, or email them a written prayer. Also, I like to set reminders of sorts. For instance, I live a few blocks fo Rachel street and pass it daily. My reminder to pray for Rachel, one of our youth, if I haven’t already.
I have always struggled with remembering. I have started praying immediately upon receiving the request. I have found that if I pray immediately, it is like I am locking it in. If it is a request that doesn’t need a repeat, I tend to forget it, but if it is something that will require time and attention, I find that if I pray right then, I tend to remember to pray for that specific thing at points throughout the day. It is like I get nudges to remember. Make sense?
I definately recommend praying immediately upon receiving the request though. That way there is absolutely no opportunity to forget. And since we can pray at any time, even when we are busy, we never have a reason not to fulfill our promise.
Not 100% foolproof. I still sometimes forget those repeated need prayers, but not like I used to.
This seriously is a tough one for me. And sometimes I will start praying for someone and then be e-mailed update after update and feel so overwhelmed….but that is just selfishness .
@BecomingMe Yup, I know what you mean – done that, too. Thank you for your transparency on that.
@Shannon (SeeSaw Faith) Shannon, that does make a lot of sense, thank you. Now that you explain, I think I have experienced that and am able to remember it easier. I will definitely try to do that more in the future as well. Thank you so much!
@Heather Oooh, I like that – the Rachel St. – pray for Rachel. I think I remember reading something similar in Taking Care of the Me in Mommy book – but it was more topical. And email prayers – I’ve done it a few times, but doing it more regularly – I like that, too. Thanks!
@Leslie Great minds.
I think so? I’ve seen buttons for prayers on others’ blogs before – BecomingMeThruHim being one if I remember right. Even better if it would send me a reminder. 
I should set up reminders in my Outlook Calendar like I do for everything else… 